Pitch counts add wrinkle to Little League strategy

The pitch count at the Little League level is used to hopefully avoid excess wear and tear on young arms and also to prevent overuse as pitchers have mandatory rest days based on the number of pitches thrown. But there is a strategic element that goes along with it. As All-Star teams advance through the Little League postseason, pitching becomes more and more important. Every team that wins a district title and advances to the section tournament has at least two ace pitchers and usually a more than competent third option. While depth is key in a 15-team district tournament, pitching staffs get much shorter as the number of teams in a tournament bracket dwindle.

Take the four-team Majors Section 3 tournament in Fremont, where District 52 champ Half Moon Bay opened with a 4-0 win over Canyon Creek. Both teams used their top two pitchers, but each is still available to pitch later this week in the tournament that runs, potentially, through next Tuesday.

The pitch count at the Majors (10, 11, 12 year olds) level has an 85-pitch maximum. Throw more than 66 pitches, that pitcher is ineligible to pitch again for four days; 1-20 pitches, no days of rest mandated; 21-35, one day of rest; 36-50, two days rest; and 51-65, three days off. Trying to determine how many pitches to let a pitcher throw is increasing becoming a large part of the game.

HMB starter Liam Harrington could easily have thrown a complete game in Tuesday’s win. But HMB manager Don Scatena kept a very close eye on Harrington. When he reached his 53rd pitch, Scatena pulled his ace with two outs in the fourth inning and HMB leading 4-0.

Scatena then summoned co-ace Ben Cleary from shortstop and he went the final 2 1/3 innings, throwing only 31 pitches. Since Cleary didn’t reach the 36-pitch limit, he needs only one day off before being eligible to start in tonight’s winner’s bracket final against District 45-Union City at 5:30 p.m. at Marshall Fields in Fremont.

It also means Harrington is eligible to come back for a second start on Saturday, if HMB falls into an elimination game in the consolation bracket.

Once the week flips, however, the pitch count starts all over again. So if HMB makes it to the championship round beginning next Monday, both hurlers would be eligible to pitch for a championship.

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The Bel-Mateo 13-15 Babe Ruth All-Stars advanced to the championship round of the double-elimination Northern California state tournament with a come-from-behind victory over Mountain View Tuesday.

Bel-Mateo fell behind 5-0 after the first inning, but rallied for a 9-8 victory. It will face the winner of Palo Alto-Mountain View, which plays in the consolation final Wednesday night.

The first of two possible championship games begins at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Belmont Sports Complex. Bel-Mateo needs to lose twice to be denied the title. If necessary, a second game would follow a half hour after the conclusion of the first.

Nathan Mollat can be reached by email: nathan@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: 344-5200 ext. 117. You can follow him on Twitter @CheckkThissOutt.